Hi,
Some researchers give this William Cooper as the son of John Cooper b. 1635. This is an interesting line in that Ann Bailey was probably an Amer. Indian (Mulatto in the terminology of the day). Descendants include Benjamin and Elizabeth (Cannon) Cooper of Bute/Franklin/Granville Co., N.C. where there was a virtual colony of Coopers in the area around Warrenton. Related (I believe) was also Cornelius C. Cooper b. abt. 1740 who married Rebecca Pettycobb/Pettycoat, lived on Fishing Creek and was described in the records as a Free Person of Color. His son Benjamin married Pretty Girl, a Cherokee, and their descendants are on Cherokee Rolls.
I paste below what I have and would welcome any correspondence about this family. More information is available on my page at World Connect/Rootsweb and my web site Panther's Lodge at http://www2.gasou.edu/facstaff/dpanther/ Please reply by posting.
Thanks!
Donald Panther-Yates
Descendant of Henry Labon Cooper (thought to be a brother of Cornelius C. Cooper) of Granville Co., N.C. (about 1735-1830)

Descendants of William Cooper


Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM2 Cooper (JOHN1) died 1696. He married ANN Bailey.

Notes for WILLIAM COOPER:
Will Book: May 3, 1696, Book 5, p. 210, Lower Norfolk Co, VA.

More About WILLIAM COOPER:
Will: May 03, 1696, Will Book:, Book 5, p. 210, Lower Norfolk Co, VA.

Notes for ANN BAILEY:
On the Baileys in Surrey Co. and Isle of Wight, apparently the first in America was Anselm Bailey, an indentured servant 21 years old in 1661: from "Bristol to America Ansell Bayly to John Driver, 5 yrs-VA-10 Sep 1661-Bristol Registers.

More About ANN BAILEY:
Ethnicity: Said to have been Indian (Mulatto)

Children of WILLIAM Cooper and ANN Bailey are:
2. i. WILLIAM3 Cooper, d. 1732, Norfolk Co., Va..
ii. JOHN Cooper.


Generation No. 2

2. WILLIAM3 Cooper (WILLIAM2, JOHN1) died 1732 in Norfolk Co., Va.. He married ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON.

Notes for WILLIAM COOPER:
From Gordon Price (price.ged): William and Elizabeth lived in Norfolk Co, VA. In his will, probated 1732, he lists his wife and children.

Note:

William Cooper Jr.'s will, 16 Feb 1732, Lower Norfolk Co. Va, see copy in file.
He mentions his wife Elizabeth and the following children, sons Benjamin,
Edward, John, George, Joseph, and daughter Ann Bayley. Witnesses Sam C Langley,
James Toomoth, and George Righting.Proved by Sam C. Langly and George C.

Note:

Gary Cooper, gcooper@lexcominc.net, thinks that without a doubt, that William
Cooper's son Benjamin, is not the Benjamin who married Elizabeth Cannon. He
says that according to information found in the Norfolk, VA library under
Norfolk Wills VA Tithables 1751-1765 page 185, Tithables acres of land 146
taken in June 1765, and says that this puts Benjamin, son of William still
alive in 1765 and that we all know that Benjamin who married Elizabeth Cannon
was dead at this point in time. Therefore, my records may be incorrect in this
instance, yet he has been reluctant to provide me the proof, so I am going with
William was the father of Benjamin who married Elizabeth Cannon.

More About WILLIAM COOPER:
Will: February 16, 1732/33, Lower Norfolk Co., Va.

Children of WILLIAM Cooper and ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON are:
3. i. BENJAMIN4 Cooper, b. 1702; d. 1761, Granville Co., N.C..
ii. JOSEPH Cooper.
iii. EDWARD Cooper.
4. iv. JOHN Cooper, b. Abt. 1700.
v. GEORGE Cooper.
vi. ANN Bailey Cooper.
vii. ELIZABETH WILLIAMSON Cooper.
viii. JACOB Cooper.
ix. JAMES Cooper.


Generation No. 3

3. BENJAMIN4 Cooper (WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born 1702, and died 1761 in Granville Co., N.C.. He married ELIZABETH Cannon Abt. 1739 in Virginia, daughter of JOHN Cannon and MARY Price. She was born 1716, and died Aft. 1759.

Notes for BENJAMIN COOPER:
These Coopers lived on Fishing Creek in N. C. around 1750 in what became Bute Co., along the Trading Path from the James River settlements in Virginia to the Blue Ridge area of Western Carolina and Tennessee-Kentucky. Bute County was formed in 1764 from Granville County and abolished in 1779 when Franklin and Warren Counties were formed from the area.

This Benjamin Cooper is often confused with a Benjamin Cooper who was son of James Cooper of Philadelphia and who married Elizabeth Kelley and Sarah Burton and died in Kentucky. The two were probably cousins. There is also a James Benjamin Cooper, son of Reuben, in the same generation and same locale. Additionally, there is a Benjamin Cooper born 1691 who was an orphan raised by a Joseph Cooper; he married Elizabeth Cole.

From price.ged: It is possible that Benjamin was born in the British Isles, but we believe
Surry Co VA. Some believe he was born 1701, however I believe 1691, based upon
the fact a Benjamin Cooper was a juror in Surry County in 1712, if true he
would have been at least 21 years of age.

Note:

The records of Charles City County, Va, from which Prince George County was
created indicates that is is possible that the Orphans Court Held at Westover
15 Sept 1693 ordered Joseph Cooper to produce an Orphan who we believe may have
been our Benjamin. However, the identity of that orphan and how the orphan came
to be in custody of Joseph Cooper is not apparent from the records available

Note:

In 1712 a Benjamin Cooper was a juror in Surry County. See Jo White Linn's
notes.

Note:

In 1739 Benjamin Cooper acquired 190 acres of land in Isle of Wright County, Va
(per JWL report) However it is believed this Benjamin Cooper was the one that
had wives Sara Esther Burton and Elizabeth Kelly.

Note:

In 1741, Kannon Cooper, son of Benjamin Cooper, is named as cousin and one of
heirs in will of John Cannon of Southwark Parish (Surry County:), see copy in
file. (N.B.: Benjamin Cooper's wife was Elizabeth Cannon).

Note:

In 1747 Benjamin Cooper sold the 100 acres of land he had patented in Isle of
Wright County to James Cooper of Surry County (per JWL report) (what happened
to the other 190 acres in Isle of Wright acquired in 1739?) Again we believe
this is probably the Benjamin Cooper who had wives Sara Esther Burton and
Elizabeth Kelly.

Note:

Jo White Linn's 18 April 1992 report, identified William Cooper in Granville County County, NC, in 1750 with two slaves Ben and Sam, and again on the 1755
Granville County, NC, tax list. Williams's father, Benjamin Cooper, whose wife
was Elizabeth Cannon, is identified as having left a 1759 Granville County, NC,
will and as having gone to Granville County, NC from Isle of Wright County, VA
where he had patented 100 acres on 24 Mar 1725. Again based upon the facts as
we have them today, it is believed that this is the Benjamin with Wife Sara
Burton and Elizabeth Kelly.

Note:

Jo's report identified Benjamin Cooper as a juror in Surry County, VA on 19 Nov
1712. A deed recorded in Surry County, VA, on 20 Oct 1747, shows Benjamin (x)
Cooper of Isle of Wright, VA selling to James Cooper, of Surry County, VA, the
land Benjamin Cooper had patented in Isle of Wright County, VA in 1725. A deed
dated 7 Jan 1754 and recorded in Surry County, VA on 15 Jan 1754 shows James
Cooper and wife Elizabeth Cooper selling the same land to John Richardson Jr.
of Brunswick County, VA. Again however, we believe this is the Benjamin with
wives Burton and Kelly

Note:

Fern says, "Benjamin Cooper was somewhat visionary. He imagined that if he
could leave Philadelphia and get into the 'great out of doors' he could soon
become a great country Gentleman. So he left Philadelphia and came first to
Isle of Wright County in Virginia where he was graanted lands. Not many years
later we find him in Louden County Virginia. He later moved to North Carolina
where he died in 1761. Could have gone with Green and his 100 men to North
Carolina in 1750 when the first permanent settlement of English and American
people was made." (This is a direct quote from "The Cooper Family", by Murphy
Rowe Cooper, and it is discussing the Benjamin with wives Burton and Kelley) It
is doubtful that our Benjamin was ever in Philadelphia, she has the Benjamin
who married Elizabeth Kelley, not the Benjamin who married Elizabeth Cannon..

Note:

The Abstracts of the Wills and Estate Records of Granville County, NC,
1746-1808, indicate on page 12, the Unrecorded Will of Benjamin Cooper, dated 9
Apr 1759, probated 11 Aug Court 1761. It mentions his wife Elizabeth, and their
children (Kenon, Sarah, Grace, James, William, John, George and daughters Mary
Jelks and Elizabeth Wiggins) listed on this Family Group Record. The executors
were, wife Elizabeth Cooper, an son Kennon Cooper.

Note: Witnesses were Richard Bennett and John Mublow. (see copy of will in file).
Note:

There has risen a question regarding Elizabeth Wiggins, for in Fleet Cooper,
Sr's will he leaves five shillings to his daughter Elizabeth Wiggins. We favor
going with the record here, that the Elizabeth Wiggins mentioned in Benjamins
will is not the same as the one mentioned in Fleet's will.

Note:

Fern Oliver Shelley of Mesa, Arizona says that Benjamin was born abt 1697,
Philadelphia, Pa, USA. However Gary Cooper indicates he was born about 1692,
this is more reasonable, as it would have made him about 20 years of age when
he was on the jury. The place he was born is a little guess work, he may have
been born in the British Isles. Interesting to observe that some say this
Benjamin was born about 1701 in Philadelphia, but again the facts tell us this
was the other Benjamin.

Jo White Linn, Certified Genealogist, hired by Howard L Bowers of Provo, Ut, in
1991 summarizes her work as follows: "Benjamin Cooper appears in North Carolina
records in the writing of his will in 1759 when he died testate in Granville County County leaving his wife a life estate in the homeplace which is then to revert
to his son Kennon Coopr. The first tax list in which we find acreage listed is
that on 1788 when Cannon Cooper is charged with 147 1/2 acres. When he wrote
his will in 1792 he had 7 children to whom he bequeathed one shilling each and
six who were to share in the widow's life estate. It is entirely possible that
he had 7 older children by one wife and the younger six by a second wife. (or
perhaps 6 by the first wife and one by the second wife, which we believe is
possible, and probably true) There is no way, from the figures we presently
have, to determine why he didn't have more acreage, because we don't find his
selling it. (So White Linn had no idea of the wives of son Benjamin or son
Kannon, but we now know the the wive of son Benjamin was Ann Sterling and the
wife of son Kannon was Sara but we have no idea as to her maiden name). While
we feel fairly certain that Benjamin Cooper's wife was a Cannon/Kennon (or
scared by one), we have found no record to this point that would make a case
for it."

More About BENJAMIN COOPER:
Migration: 1755, Moved to Fishing Creek and Buffalo Creek in N.C.
Will: April 09, 1759, Made will, probated in Aug. 1761

Children of BENJAMIN Cooper and ELIZABETH Cannon are:
i. ELIZABETH5 Cooper, b. 1735; m. THOMAS Wiggins, 1753; b. 1730; d. January 03, 1799, Henderson District, Granville Co., N.C..
ii. CANNON Cooper, b. 1737; d. 1794, Franklin Co., N.C.; m. SARAH BAKER.

Notes for Cannon COOPER:
From Gordon Price (price.ged): t is belived by some that the spelling of his name is Cannon, yet some say it
was Kennon.

Kannon settled first in the James River seaction of Virginia just prior to the
Revolutionary War.

Will of Kannon, Franklin, NC, 24 Aug 1794, Will Book A:167, dated 1793. Son
Kannon and wife Sarah co-executors. Will lists wife Sarah; sons, Kannon, James,
Willis, Levi, Arthur, and Davis, daughters Holanberry, Elvira, Abigail,
Clerimond, Vinum, Sally, and Patsy. It is clear in his will that he spells his
name Kannon as well as his son Kannon. (It has been noted that in some
documents it is spelled Cannon, Kennon and Kanon, we will go with the spelling
in his will)

We find in Abstracts of the Early Deeds of Granville Co, NC 1746-1765, C:529. 1
Jun 1758. James Thompson to Cannon Cooper for L40, 160 A in Granville County at
Alston's corner on Buffalo Creek. Wit: Jos. Person, Randolph Hazlewood.

See Abstracts of Land Entries: Granville County, NC, 1778-1877. p. 4. Kennon
Cooper 3450 A in Granville County on waters of Mrtins Creek and Sandy Creek
adjoining his line, Phillemon Hawkins jr., Charles R. Eaton, Joseph Rogers and
Thomas Christmas, including his own improvement. 400 acres surveyed. Issued 28
May 1778. We assume this is our Kannon Cooper.

The majority of information regarding Kannon and his family came from Howard L.
Bowers, 3945 Cannyon Road, Provo, UT 84604, 801-226-4240; and Fern Oliver
Shelley, 535 N Leseuer, Mesa, Az 85203, 520-964-0285, and Gail S. Tomlinson,
108 Brookside Drive, Senatobia, Ms 38668-1505 (additional information on
Kannon's children in her file, not entered on this record).

We believe his mothers name was Elizbeth Cannon, it would be reasonable that he
was named after her maiden name. Additionally, the will of John Cannon 1741,
Surry Co, Va, Bk 9:388, names "my cousin Cannon Cooper, son of Benjamin Cooper,
20 shillings for schooling"

Book B: 2. Sale of estate of Kennon Cooper decd (undated). Buyers were Kennon
Cooper, Srah Cooper, David Cooper, Howell Cooper, Seth Mabry, Belza Mangum,
Vinan Cooper, John Purdue, Phil. Bowers, Jonathan Hunt.


Book B: 3 Inventory of estate of Kennon Coopr deced filed. 2 Feb 1795 by Kennon
Coopr exr. Some goods were sold to satisfy debats in the estate.

Note: Abstract of wills, Franklin Co. A:167 29 Aug 1794, Cooper, Kannan,
Note: Sarah (wife); Kannan, James, Hollianberry, Clorimond, amd Elvira.

More About Cannon COOPER:
Fact: 1741, Named as cousin in will of John Cannon, Surrey Co., Va.
Land: June 01, 1758, 160 acres on Buffalo Creek from James Thompson, Granville Co., N.C.

iii. BENJAMIN Cooper, b. 1738, Granville Co., N.C. (?); d. February 12, 1777, Bute Co., North Carolina; m. ANN STERLING.

Notes for BENJAMIN COOPER:
We find in the Abstracts of The Early Deeds of Granville County, NC, 1746-1765,
D:378: 3 Aug 1761. Thomas Daniel to Benjamin Cooper for L20, 125 A in Granville County County on S side of Rocky Branch, being part of a survey taken up by Daniels.
Wit: Joseph and Joshua Person. We assume this is our Benjamin Cooper.

Note:

Bute County, NC, Minutes of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions 1767-1779,
page 233. 12 Feb 1777, the last will and testament, dated 11 Dec 1776, of
Benjamin was presented in Court. Executors were brother Cannon Cooper and his
wife Ann Cooper. An inventory of the estate was returned by the executors at
May Court 1777. (It should be noted that Bute County was formed in 1764 from
Granville County and abolished in 1779 when Franklin and Warren Counties were
formed from the area)

Note:

Mary Hinton Kerr, Warren County, NC, Records, Vol. I, p. 50 (Bute County, NC,
Record Book 2:106. Will of Benjamin Cooper, dated 11 Dec. 1776, probated Feb.
Court 1777 see will in file). Among other things the will says that Ann is to
raise and support my five children Son Martin, my four children: Beckey, Dene
(Could be Dan?), Tabby, Wilax (probably Wilar?), Mentions bond due from William
Halcombe and Waterman Boatman. Exrs: brother Cannon Cooper and wife Ann Cooper.
Wit: Mathew Thomas, Stephen Gupton. (Gail Shepard Tomlinson believes the
names in parantheses are correct)
--price.ged

More About BENJAMIN COOPER:
Fact: 1768, Served on jury in Bute Co., N.C.

iv. JAMES Cooper, b. 1742; m. MARTHA HARRISON, January 19, 1780.

Notes for JAMES COOPER:
Granville Marrriages 1753-1868, page 70. Cooper, James and
Martha Harrisson, 19 JAN 1780; Cannon Cooper, bm; Asa Searcy, wit.

v. WILLIAM Cooper, b. 1744; d. Abt. March 1808; m. MARY (POLLY) HARRISON.

Notes for WILLIAM COOPER:
Could this William Cooper be the same as the William who married a Vining/Viney whose brother was Cornelius married to Petticobb? Perhaps Viney was a second wife?
From price.ged:
1755 to 1770 they resided near Fishing Creek and Buffalo Creek in Granville Co,
NC.

Note:

19 Oct 1765 William bought 155 acres on Nutabush Creek from Reuben Searcy.
Nutbush Creek is now in Henderson NC, Vance County and flows north into Kerr
Reservoir.

Note: 22 Oct 1772 William bought 390 acres on Taylors Road from James Travillian.
Note:

1772 William and wife Mary sold 155 acres of land non Nutbush, akjacent to
Robert Mitchell, possible family name of Rev. William Cooper II's wife.

Note:

1804 William Cooper Deed of Gift in Union County, SC refers to children: Sally
Daniel Cooper, POLLY Cooper, William Cooper, Richard Cooper and Abner Cooper

Note:

A will of a William Cooper of Franklin Co., N.C. (Franklin County Record of
Wills, 1785-1812, C.039.80002 Vol. B, p. 72(73)) was dated 29 Jan 1807,
Franklin Co.,NC.(see copy in file). In the will his wife is not mentioned,
however he left his estate to four ladies who we presume were his daughters, as
follows: Priscella Elliott wife of Alexander Elliott, POLLY Sledge the late
wife of Hamliton (or perhaps Hamiblin), Priscilla Sledge wife of Joel Sledge
and Nancy Parks (?). It is questionable if this is our William or another
William because of the four ladies names.

Note:

The Gary Cooper, who has made detail searches of the line of the Cooper people
has found information that indicates William Cooper (I)'s children were Rev
William, Elijah Harrison, John, Andrew, Abner, Richard, Sally Daniel, and
Polly.

Note:

Another person agrees with the children we show but claims there was another,
Elizabeth Cooper, d 28 Dec 1784, Nash Co, NC. and indicates she married her
first cousin John Daniel, and became the great grandmother of Worth Ray, author
of "Tennessee Cousins" and genealogist.

Note:

From a letter dated 14 Aug 1856, written by William's grandson, James William
Cooper to his son: "When Daniel Boon was exploring Kentucky, my grandfather
William was with him. As well as I remember, he told me when the Kentucky lines
were marked out he was one of the number though his name was spelt Cook. But on
the breaking out of the hostilities with the Indians his family peremptorily
refused to go. Some time afterward hte moved to Union District SC before
leaving NC. He had five sons and two daughters."

Note:

William and POLLY moved to Union CO, SC and lived with her brother James
Harrison at Fairforest. Deed of gift to William II, 1804; Union County Deed
Book H, pp 135-136 recorded 5 May 1894. William Sr. left to his son William
"one bed and furniture and sted and cord, etc." He also mentions his beloved
children Sally Daniel Cooper, POLLY and William Cooper, and Richard Cooper. The
names of the witnesses: Joseph Howard, James Tosh and Ephraim Wilbourn place
William in the area of the Lower Fairforest Baptist Church (off Highway 49,
about seven miles south of Union, SC) Elijah does not appear in the Deed of
Gift since he had previously died in 1796.

More About WILLIAM COOPER:
Fact: Went to Ky. with Daniel Boone
Land: 1755, Bought land from Reuben Searcy near Henderson, N.C., sold it in 1772
Migration: From Granville Co., N.C. to Union Co., S.C.
Military service: Rev. war at Guilford Courthouse

vi. GEORGE Cooper, b. 1745; d. 1806, Warren Co., Ga..

More About GEORGE COOPER:
Fact: Went to Cumberland Co., N.C., then Jefferson Co., Ga.

vii. JOHN WILLIAM Cooper, d. December 28, 1784, Nash Co., N.C.; m. PENELOPE RAY; d. 1790.

More About JOHN WILLIAM COOPER:
Will: 1785, Probated

viii. SARAH Cooper, b. Abt. 1748.
ix. GRACE Cooper, b. 1752; m. ---- HOLMES.
x. MARY Cooper, b. 1754; m. ----- JELKS.

4. JOHN4 Cooper (WILLIAM3, WILLIAM2, JOHN1) was born Abt. 1700.

Notes for JOHN COOPER:

The Register of Albemarle Parish, Surry and Sussex Counties, Va, 1739-1778
indicates that John Cooper was the grandparent of Drury Cooper son of James and
Eliza Cooper. It also indicates that Richd Felts and Priscilla Land were also
grandparents. This suggests that perhaps Eliza Cooper's father was Richd Felts.
--Gordon Price

More About JOHN COOPER:
Residence: Albemarle Parish, Sussex and Surrey Cos., Va.

Child of JOHN Cooper is:
i. JAMES5 Cooper, b. Abt. 1727, Prob. Surry Co., Va.; d. 1782, Sussex, Va.; m. ELIZABETH FELTS.

Notes for JAMES COOPER:
According to the Sussex County Circuit Court Clerk, "James Cooper, whose will
was probated here in Sussex County in 1782, was a resident of the county when
it was cut off from Surry County in 1754. The Coopers were prolific in 17th
and 18th century Surry, and that is where your research will have to proceed." --Gordon Price

More About JAMES COOPER:
Will: July 13, 1781, Surry Co., Va.

Donald, I have just found this missing link of my family recently. YOur info is great! I had to start in the other direction. I only knew my mother's mothers' father was John James Cooper b 1880 d 1940 married Lettie Naomi Trigg b 1184-1925. I slowly found that James Cornelius Cooper was his father and so on from there. There is a website by Peggy Hooper that I found with info. I am still new to thi line and trying to piece it all together. Thanks. Roxanne

Do you happen to know anything about a later William Cooper having a son by the name of Bud Robert Gupton? He was my great Grandfather. I am a student working on a genealogy paper at East Carolina University. I know alittle about this history from what family members had told me, but I am trying to find out more information if possible. Anything you could provide me with I'd greatly appreciate. Thank you

Kannon Cooper's daughter Holanbury Cooper married Howell Cooper on 12 Dec 1784 in Warren County, NC. Their son, Howell Cooper, Jr., was born there in ca.1792. They moved to Jasper County, GA ca. 1805. Who was Howell Cooper, Sr.? Is he the same as the Howell Cooper who was in Surry County, VA? Were Howell Cooper, Sr. and Holanbury Cooper cousins?